Reworking modalities to resume NREGS in Bengal: Govt

Paswan said: “The proposal for upward revision of the Labour Budget for FY 2021-22 for West Bengal was not approved by the Empowered Committee, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS), Department of Rural Development due to non-compliance with the directives issued… the release of funds to West Bengal under the MGNREGS was stopped with effect from 09.03.2022 by invoking the provisions of Section 27 of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, owing to continued non-compliance with the directives of the Central Government by the State.”

“As per NREGASoft, the total pending liability pertaining to the State of West Bengal (as on 08.03.2022) stands at Rs 3,082.52 crore, comprising Rs 1,457.22 crore under the wage component, Rs 1,607.68 crore under the material component, and Rs 17.62 crore under the administrative component. The admissibility of this liability is subject to verification by the Central Government,” Paswan said, responding to a question asked by TMC members Mala Roy, Rachna Banerjee, Kirti Azad and Prof Sougata Ray.

Following a setback in the SC, the Rural Development Ministry had informed the PMO last month that it may “consider” resuming the MGNREGS in West Bengal—under “special conditions”.

Before the scheme’s suspension, West Bengal was among the top states when it came to availing the benefits of the scheme — 51 to 80 lakh families in the state availed it annually between 2014-15 and 2021-22

In its June 18 order, the HC said, “… the appropriate authority of the Central Government is fully empowered to impose special conditions, restrictions and regulations etc. which have not been imposed in other states in the country so as to ensure that no illegality or irregularity occurs while the scheme is being implemented prospectively from August 2025 onwards.”